Big Leaguers Notebook: Aug. 17

Indians teammates come through for Hannahan in time of need

 As Indians infielder Jack Hannahan stepped into the batter's box at Fenway Park earlier this month, his wife, Jenny, went into premature labor with their first child. Hannahan wouldn't make it back in time if he waited for the first available flight out of Boston, but he couldn't afford a private flight back to Cleveland that night. "Book it," said teammate Justin Masterson, who collected donations in the clubhouse to cover Hannahan's bill. The price of a private emergency flight back to Boston: $35,000. Having your teammates help you make it to the hospital just in time for the birth of your son: Priceless. (Yahoo! Sports)

 America's next top (Major League) model? Take a peek behind the scenes as the Phillies strike poses and ham it up for the cameras during a recent photo shoot. (YouTube)

 Just 11 days after a scary line drive fractured his neck, Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio received a standing ovation as he returned to Coors Field with his mom. (The Denver Post). "Thank God I can walk. That was my biggest fear, that I wouldn't be able to walk. I feel very lucky. A lot of people who have that injury don't live," said Nicasio, smiling and already determined to get back to baseball.

"He's already said he's going to be a 20-game winner," said Rockies athletic trainer Keith Dugger. "Right now, he has a baseball in his hands at all times." (Rockies.com)

 Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is giving hundreds of New York City kids a better future at the East Harlem R.B.I. program (Twitter). "We get these kids young," said Teixeira, who takes the time to personally encourage the kids to stay in school and helps teach them baseball fundamentals. "At 5 or 6 years old they can come into the program and we can actually see them grow." To learn more about how Teixeira's is making a difference through Harlem R.B.I. and to join his Dream Team, visit http://dreamteam25.org/.

 What's the meaning behind Darnell McDonald's tattoos? What message does Adrian Gonzalez has engraved on his bat? What's Tim Wakefield's secret to throwing the perfect knuckleball? Get the answers! (Boston Globe)

 On Tuesday, every Nationals player honored American service members by taking batting practice in baseball caps featuring the insignia of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and military reserves. (The Washington Post)

Tweet of the Day: "Turner and I have officially agreed on terms. 500 dollars to the charity of the others choice." -- Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (@RADickey43). Dickey and teammate Justin Turner (@redturn2) are racing against each other in a Twitter battle to see who can gain 3,000 followers the fastest. Looks like it's getting serious! (Twitter)

Quote of the Day: "We have a saying, it's called 'right on it.' Basically, if a dude swings at a pitch and misses it by three feet, he says, 'I got a boy right on it,' and it's so ironic because obviously the dude just whiffed by three feet. He's definitely not right on it. And so you'll see that guys can hear him while in the batter's box, so when they whiff on one, he'll be like, 'yeah, right on it' and they'll look up toward the dugout, and everybody's laughing." -- C.J. Wilson on the newest catchphrase in the Rangers dugout. (Dallas Morning News)

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.